President Bush toured a display of Volvo renewable energy vehicles at the AB Volvo Group booth at the International Renewable Energy Conference in Washington.

The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) drew nearly 7,000 participants, which included delegates from 119 countries, all hoping to find ways to reduce their dependence on oil, promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gases.

The Volvo exhibit showcased seven trucks designed to work with seven different alternative fuels. Volvo Group’s message was that the trucks are available today, but the company needs increased availability and standardization of alternative fuels to make C02-neutral transport a reality.

President Bush also gave a speech, in which he laid out a strategy for reducing oil in the US and discussed current initiatives to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy use.

“One of the messages that really permeated the last day of WIREC was that renewables are a key element of our broader strategy to address the challenges of energy security and climate change,” said Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, US Department of State. “We see renewable energy as an integral part of our overall climate change policy, and an important element. President Bush spoke very passionately about the great strides that we’ve made this decade and also the great potential for tremendous technological advances in the years ahead.”